cortar
verb
1. to cut
divide with a sharp object
Common combinations
- cortar el pan — cut bread
- cortar la tela — cut fabric
- cortar las ramas — cut branches
- Corta el pan en rebanadas.Cut the bread into slices.
- Mi madre cortó la tela con unas tijeras.My mother cut the fabric with scissors.
- El jardinero cortó las ramas secas.The gardener cut the dry branches.
2. to cut, trim
make hair or nails shorter
Common combinations
- cortar el pelo — cut hair
- cortar las uñas — cut nails
- cortar la barba — trim a beard
- Necesito cortar el pelo.I need to get my hair cut.
- El peluquero le cortó el pelo muy corto.The hairdresser cut his hair very short.
- Voy a cortarme las uñas.I'm going to cut my nails.
3. to interrupt, cut off
stop communication or an activity
Common combinations
- cortar la música — stop the music
- cortar una llamada — cut off a call
- cortar la palabra — interrupt someone
- Cortaron la música a medianoche.They stopped the music at midnight.
- Se cortó la llamada de repente.The call was suddenly cut off.
- No me cortes cuando estoy hablando.Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking.
4. to cut off, disconnect
interrupt a supply or service
Common combinations
- cortar la luz — cut off the electricity
- cortar el agua — cut off the water
- cortar el suministro — cut off the supply
- La compañía cortó la luz por la deuda.The company cut off the electricity because of the debt.
- Nos han cortado el agua.They have cut off our water.
- El banco cortó la tarjeta.The bank canceled the card.
5. to cut, reduce
reduce an amount or expense
Common combinations
- cortar gastos — cut expenses
- cortar el presupuesto — cut the budget
- cortar el consumo — cut consumption
- Tenemos que cortar los gastos.We have to cut expenses.
- El gobierno cortó el presupuesto.The government cut the budget.
- Estoy cortando el azúcar.I'm cutting down on sugar.
6. to break up, end a relationship + con
end a romantic or personal relationship
Common combinations
- cortar con alguien — break up with someone
- cortar una relación — end a relationship
- cortar definitivamente — end things for good
- Clara cortó con su novio.Clara broke up with her boyfriend.
- Después de la discusión, decidieron cortar.After the argument, they decided to break up.
- No quiere cortar la relación con su familia.He doesn't want to end his relationship with his family.
7. to take a shortcut
follow a shorter route
Common combinations
- cortar camino — take a shortcut
- cortar por el parque — take a shortcut through the park
- cortar por el campo — take a shortcut across the fields
- Podemos cortar camino por el parque.We can take a shortcut through the park.
- El taxi cortó por una calle pequeña.The taxi took a shortcut through a small street.
- Para llegar antes, cortamos por el campo.To arrive earlier, we took a shortcut across the fields.
Phrases with this word